Reducing the Risk of SIDS

SIDS stands for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and can occur at any time to any baby. It does not discriminate. While SIDS cannot be prevented completely, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk. As a reader, it is important that you take this advice seriously.

The first thing that should be said is that using crib bedding like bumpers and blankets is dangerous because baby can throw the blanket over his face and smother himself or scoot himself while sleeping toward the bumper and since he is so young, he won't know to turn his face while asleep. As he exhales the carbon dioxide, it will have nowhere to go but right back into baby. Once baby is old enough to willingly move his head, bedding should be safe. But keep blankets away. Use a sleeper to keep baby warm.

The next important point I need to make is to be sure to put him on his back. Putting baby on his stomach should be saved for tummy time. As a newborn, he doesn't have the capability to move his head back and forth if sleeping on his tummy. When he is old enough to roll over, he may voluntarily roll onto his tummy. That's OK because he does it on his own.

The last thing I need to mention is that if a caregiver smokes, he or she should take it outside. Wear a separate jacket or pullover when going outside to smoke. If baby is held while caregiver is wearing the same shirt he smoked in, baby can breath in the smoke and death can occur.

Keep in mind that these are not the only steps you should take to help prevent SIDS. But these are important.